The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1887-05-20
AUNT POLLY PIDGE.
Was Marian Gray Bound to Her
In Any Way7

Where shall we cut the tic OF kin
dred? To what extent can relation
ship be diluted. before il ceases to be
relationship? ! have an aunt $50
called). who comes upon US in semi
annual visitations. which are as I'M
failing and unwelcome as the spring
and autumn house-cl caningS Years
ago. my beloved Aunt Mary became
the wife Of Nathan Pidge. That she
was a woman Of unusual independence
and strength Of m ind. she proved by
cheerfully adopting such an undignified
name.
After welded life OF forty years.
Aunt Mary died. leaving Uncle Nathan
alone. in his second childhood. Per-
haps he found il insupportable 70 re-
main the sole representative Of the
line Of Pidges; or. perhaps his house,
keeper. Polly Judkins. may have
charmed him by her diligcnt dosing
At all events. after a year Of mourning.
ne married her, and shortly aftsrward
died.
Now the question arises, because my
Aunt Mary was the first wife Of
Nathan Pidge. does II follow that
Polly Pidge. his second wife. Is at all
akin to usP She. evidently, has no
deubs Of II, but claims our hospitality
without limit.
We were cozily seated by the sitting
room fire one October evening. with
the center-table drawn up in front OF 4
nicely-swept hearth. when the village
stage Cooking. with it, huge, covered
top. like Quaker bonnet on wheels)
stopped 1t the gate.
There was little pleasurable excite
ment at first, Of wondering what visit
ors had arrived; but the next moment
enthusiasm was changed into vcxation,
for there was no installing the uncouth
figure and peculiar garments Of Aunt
Polly Pidgc. My mother being gone.
! welcomed the guest with a. good a
grace As possible, and led her into the
r'vu which had seemed . moment be-
fore, 80 cheerful and bright, feeling
that now its cheerfulness was all gone
There, dear, put the bundles right
down BY the fire, SOS TO take the chill
Oft shall want some things out Of
them; and you may leave the soapstone
on the fire-frame, Il will get warm BY
bedtime.
SO saying, Aunt Polly seated herself
In rocking-chair, and relieved her
carpet-sack Of its contents. 1t was a
peripatctic apothccary shop. was that
sachel. Out Of 1t came bottles Of lini-
ment, camphor, ammonia and sundries
whose names / despair Of remembering
You can put the walls on the man
tel. TO have them handy" said Aunt
Pidgc. "for Il appears 10 me I've got q
spell Of the sciatiky coming on"
MY father. ~ he entered. looked
amused. He little dreamed Of the
suppressed vexation l felt went out
70 prepare for this troublesome guest,
with IS serene face IS I could COM
mand- But on returning. : few min
utes later. to say that tea was waiting.
Aunt Pidge declared {" she didn't want
me TO take extra steps for her. | might
oring Il on . waiter-she wasn't At all
particular" adding. - seemed about
g urge her supping in . civilized
way. that, besides she was afraid
q ne draught in the great dining
She prevailed. and the sitting-room
vas converted into an eating saloon
w'tnal, when the door-bell rang. Most
lervently hoping the conner might
prove to be the butchers boy, an
swered the summons, and ushercd In
Mr.. Allis.
This MI. Allis was our high-school
teacher. and quite the lion 81 tho vii
'age. 1 had met him several times It
evening parties, and this was his first
cNL ne must have thought me strange
y agitated, but felt much more like
beating hasty retreat than present-
.ng MIN 70 my worthy relative, who
J. ~ eacup In hand, awaiting the intro
auction.
"Mr' AllIs, Mrs. PIdgc." said /, pur.
posely emitting the aunt
."nos dcarP" asked Aunt Pidgc,
s% ar'ng iixedly At thc gentleman. as
snough, her ears failing her, she e.
P' ..,e ner eyes 70 supply their place.
I've got . terrible buzxing in my
80
.fcctcd." r.. \